GTMO NOTIFICATION DELIVERED, ROYG STILL UNSURE OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 002764 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/13/2015 TAGS: PREL PTER YM KWAC COUNTER TERRORISM SUBJECT: GTMO NOTIFICATION DELIVERED, ROYG STILL UNSURE OF COMBATANTS' RETURN REF: A. STATE 167959 ¶B. STATE 164152 ¶C. SANAA 2490 Classified By: DCM Nabeel Khoury for reasons 1.4 b and d. ¶1. (C) On September 13, DCM delivered notification on the continued detention of three Yemenis (ref A) to Deputy Foreign Minister Mustafa Noman. Noman accepted the names without comment. ¶2. (C) DCM also inquired on ROYG acceptance of an additional no-longer enemy combatant (ref B). Noman said he did not anticipate problems and would soon forward the name of the official responsible for accepting the detainee at the airport, likely the same official present during the return of the first no-longer enemy combatant (ref C). ¶3. (C) As for enemy combatants, Noman said the issue was "very complicated," as the ROYG could not deny the return of its citizens, but did not want to assume the burden of accepting potentially dangerous individuals. In the end, Noman commented, the decision rests with the Political Security Organization, who will be responsible for the detainees, although "President Saleh will have the final say." DCM commented that Saleh recently told Ambassador in passing that he would never accept enemy combatants. Noman promised to follow-up with the President's office to determine if the comment was serious. Krajeski